Ireland was separated from the European mainland after the last Ice Age. As
a
result the island has a smaller range of flora and fauna than is
found
elsewhere in Europe.

In the Burren area, an Arctic-Alpine plants survive from the last
glaciation.
Ireland's bogs host a large variety of bog-moss species together
with heather
and sedges. In the south west (Cork and Kerry), there are areas
rich in plants
that thrive in the mildness and humidity of this region's
climate.

The once extensive oak forests were cleared over most of the country by
the
seventeenth century. In recent decades a re-afforestation programme
has
favoured Sitka spruce, Scots, contorta and other pines, larches, Norway
spruce
and Douglas fir. There are nature reserves and national parks throughout
the
country.

Of some 380 species of wild birds recorded in Ireland, 135 breed in
the
country. There is considerable migration of birds to Ireland in spring
and
autumn, while several species arrive from Greenland and Iceland in winter;
75
per cent of the world's population of the Greenland whitefronted goose
winter
in Ireland.

Inland waters support colonies of swans, geese, waders, duck, tern and
gulls.
Game shooting is strictly controlled and State-assisted restocking
programmes
augment stocks of wild game birds. Among the more unusual species of
bird are
merlin, peregrine falcons, corncrake and chough.

Amphibians are represented by a single native species each of frog,
toad
(natterjack) and newt. There are no snakes and there is only one native
reptile, the common lizard.

Freshwater species of fish include salmon, char, pollan, eel, pike and
brown trout.

Mammals are similar to those found throughout the temperate regions of
Europe.
There are 31 species of mammals including red deer, fox, badger, red
squirrel,
otter, grey seals, common seals and many cetacean species. The Irish
stoat and
the Irish hare are interesting examples of native development.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service is responsible for conservation
in the
Republic of Ireland. Most species of wild fauna and several species of
wild
flora are protected.

Conservation of wildlife habitats is achieved through
the creation of nature
reserves of which there are 75, together with 5 refuges
for fauna and the
designation of special protection areas for wild birds.

The
National Parks and Wildlife Service is also responsible for the development
and
management of national parks and nature reserves.

To date, five national parks
have been established. All five meet international
standards for national
parks, conserving as they do outstanding parts of the
natural heritage.

They
are located at Killarney, Co. Kerry; Glenveagh, Co. Donegal; Connemara,
Co.
Galway; The Burren, Co. Clare; and the Wicklow Mountains, Co. Wicklow.

In
recent years State forests have been opened to the public. There are 11
large
forest parks and over 400 smaller amenities. Public access is generally
limited
to pedestrians.